The Jaivana Cannon (Hindi: जयवाण) is a large 18th-century cannon preserved at Jaigarh Fort, in Rajasthan, India. At the time of its manufacture in 1720, it was the world's largest cannon on wheels.[1]
History
The Jaivana was manufactured during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II (1699–1743) at a foundry in Jaigarh.[2][3] The cannon was fired only once, with a charge of Template:Convert of gunpowder, and when fired was claimed to have covered a distance of about Template:Convert.[4][5] It is said that the projectile fired from it made a small lake in Chaksu, though this is clearly an embellished legend and could not have physically happened. The cannon is now located at the Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur, at Template:Coord.
Technical data
Template:Unreferenced section The length of the barrel of the cannon is Template:Convert and it weighs 50 tons.Template:Citation needed The circumference near the tip of the barrel is Template:Convert and that of the rear is Template:Convert. The diameter of the bore of the barrel is Template:Convert and the thickness of the barrel at the tip is Template:Convert. The thickness gradually increases as one moves towards the rear of the barrel. The two thick rings on the barrel were used for lifting it with the help of a crane which, though incomplete, is still lying in Jaigarh. A Template:Convert elevating screw was used for raising and lowering the barrel.
The barrel has floral design. An elephant rests on the tip of the barrel and a pair of peacocks are carved in the centre. A pair of ducks also decorates the rear of the barrel.
Jaivana rests on a high two-wheeled carriage. The wheels are Template:Convert in diameter. The carriage is equipped with two removable additional wheels for transport. The removable wheels are Template:Convert in diameter. It is mounted on wheels and has the mechanism of two back wheels mounted on roller pin bearings, to turn it 360° and fire in any direction. A tin shed was built to protect the cannon against weather.
About Template:Convert of gunpowder fired a shot ball weighing Template:Convert.
The uses and range of the cannon and cannonballs vary over different sources.
The Jaivana Cannon was only fired once by Jai Singh II, as a test-fire in 1720. The most exaggerated myth claims that the weapon had a range of Template:Convert, other sources say it is 35, 22 and Template:Convert, although the exact range could perhaps never be determined without adequate scientific computation.Template:Citation needed Most sources, including local tourist guides agree that it was fired in the direction of Chaksu.Template:Citation needed The impact is said by many locals and tourist guides to be powerful enough to have caused a depression where a pond can be seen today. Legend has it that after it fired, pregnant women living nearby suffered miscarriages.[6] File:Jaivana Cannon.webm
See also
- Tsar Cannon
- List of the largest cannon by caliber
- The Pride and the Passion, a 1957 fictional historical film drama with a large siege cannon that has a nearly identical carriage and similar size barrel.
References
- ↑ Frommer's India{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Frommer's(1 March 2010). ISBN 978-0-470-55610-8
- ↑ Jaigarh Fort – Jaipur, India. cs.utah.edu.
- ↑ Jaipur. Jaipur.org.uk.
- ↑ Jaigarh Fort – Jaipur. Jaipurhub.com.
- ↑ Rough guide to India{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Rough Guides(15 December 2003). ISBN 978-1-84353-089-3
- ↑ Efforts on to restore foundry that built world's largest cannon on wheels in Jaipur. India Today. Retrieved 2018-11-25.
Further reading
- R.S. Khangarot, P.S. Nathawat- Jaigarh the invincible fort of Amber(1990), Raj Kmar Parnami, RBSA Publishers, Jaipur
- http://www.journeymart.com/DExplorer/AsiaIS/India/india_addon/fortspalaces/jaigarh.asp